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Valium Addiction And Treatment

Published on July 27, 2017

Valium is used to treat this and other medical concerns. Unfortunately, like many other prescription medications, far too many people choose to abuse this drug and fall prey to addiction. Fortunately, the right combination of treatment modalities can be your best weapon against an addiction to Valium.

An increasing number of Americans are altogether too familiar with anxiety. Valium is used to treat this and other medical concerns. Unfortunately, like many other prescription medications, far too many people choose to abuse this drug and fall prey to addiction. Fortunately, the right combination of treatment modalities can be your best weapon against an addiction to Valium.

At Treehouse, our holistic and personalized approach offers you or your loved one the best chance at a drug-free life.

What Is Valium?

As a sedative tranquilizer, Valium is an effective medication for certain health conditions beyond anxiety, such as muscles spasms, seizures and agitated states caused by alcohol withdrawal.

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When used as prescribed under a physician’s guidance, Valium is generally safe. However, when it’s misused or used recreationally, this safety is fleeting. Chronic abuse can quickly accelerate into addiction.

Why Do People Abuse Valium?

Despite its therapeutic effect, Valium can be a dangerous drug. Some recreational users take Valium in larger doses to intensify the relaxed and sedated states this drug creates. Many users take Valium to alter the effect of other drugs. Commenting on this polydrug abuse, American Family Physician (AFP) writes that:

“Benzodiazepines have multiple uses for polydrug addicts: they are used to enhance the euphoria effects of opioids (such as to “boost” methadone doses), to alleviate withdrawal or abstinence syndromes (such as between heroin “fixes”), to temper cocaine highs, to augment alcohol synergistically and to modulate withdrawal states.”

The heartbreaking thing is that other users do not even realize they are abusing this drug. Why is this?

Is Self-Medication Drug Abuse?

Valium abuse often stems out of an individual’s desire to self-medicate a condition that Valium is prescribed for. This means that a person may increase the dose or frequency of their own prescription without their doctor’s guidance or knowledge. Or it may mean that an individual illicitly obtains a diverted prescription for this purpose.

Either way, Valium misuse is abuse. Even if you’re attempting to self-treat a valid medical condition, you’re opening the door to addiction.

What Are The Signs Of A Valium Addiction?

When a person becomes consumed by addiction their thoughts and behaviors become increasingly centered on the drug and altered by its ill effects. If you or a loved one exhibit any of the following behaviors your abuse may have transitioned to addiction.

You:

Use someone else’s prescription.

Take more of the drug than your doctor prescribed.

Take the drug to “feel good” and/or to self-medicate.

Struggle to feel satisfied or a sense of well-being without the drug.

Lie or feel ashamed about your drug use.

Steal to obtain the drug.

Do or say things under the influence which aren’t characteristic of you.

Engage in risky behaviors which endanger yourself or others while using Valium.

Cannot limit or stop your use despite a desire to do so.

Begin to ignore important work, social or family responsibilities.

Continue to take the drug even though you know it’s impairing your physical and mental health.

Experience cravings when you’re not using it.

Need more and more of the drug to create the same pleasurable effects (tolerance).

Become ill if you drastically reduce your dosage or completely and suddenly stop using it (withdrawal).

Chronic Valium abuse may cause physical and mental signs, including:

Blurry vision

Confusion

Depression

Dis-inhibition

Disorientation

Drowsiness

Emotional blunting

Fatigue

Impaired memory

Intoxication

Low blood pressure

Nausea and vomiting

Poor coordination

Respiratory depression

Sedation

Slow reflexes

Slurred words

Vertigo

Weakened muscles

If any of these signs or behaviors seem familiar, don’t hesitate any longer and contact us today.

Does Valium Addiction Require A Medical Detox?

can become so severe that it is life-threatening. This alone necessitates that you should never try to withdrawal from Valium or any other benzodiazepine on your own. Instead, our medical detox program can help you to safely and more comfortably detox from this drug.

Withdrawal from benzodiazepines can become very uncomfortable and painful. It may lead to severe, acute symptoms which can become deadly, such as delirium tremens, as cautioned by the AFP. To protect you from this risk, our highly-trained and physician-led staff will supervise you 24/7, while offering compassionate emotional support. We will also administer various psychotherapies as needed to decrease the severity and duration of withdrawal symptoms.

During detox your body cleanses the residual drug toxins from its system, allowing your body to heal and regain strength in preparation for the next stage of treatment. Detox isn’t a standalone treatment for addiction. After detox you should progress to one of our comprehensive inpatient treatment programs.

How Does Individualized Treatment Make A Difference?

Treating each addiction the same is highly counterproductive and greatly limits your potential for success. Here, at Treehouse, we tailor your treatment to your individualized needs. Our trained and empathetic staff will target any issues or health concerns which may contribute to your addiction and begin dismantling their negative influences.

Here, by aid of various behavioral therapies and treatment modalities, you’ll learn to develop and sustain positive thoughts, emotions and behaviors in place of these harmful ones. We utilize the following behavioral therapies and counseling opportunities to get you grounded and on track to long-lasting sobriety:

Our program is unlike any other. A diverse array of engaging treatment modalities like art, adventure and wilderness therapy will help you to build inner strength, perseverance and interpersonal skills.

We will also aid you in developing positive coping and relapse prevention skills. These will help you to navigate any negative influences or triggers you might encounter in the future which could cause relapse. To further protect the sober life you’ve fought so hard for, we will support you with our phenomenal aftercare services.

Why Is Dual Diagnosis Treatment Important?

Addiction is often tied to a co-existing mental health disorder like anxiety or depression. According to the AFP, some individuals may use Valium to induce a state of “emotional anesthesia.” Specifically, they write that “This effect may be sought by drug addicts who become progressively more incapable of tolerating their emotions and life stressors.” This is just one example of how individuals may use Valium in an attempt to self-medicate a mental or physical health condition.

These individuals require extra, dual diagnosis care during treatment to ensure their sobriety has a solid foundation. Additionally, our staff utilizes mindfulness and stress management techniques to help you cope with anxiety and other concerns which may trigger or exacerbate your mental illness or drug abuse.

Create A Brighter, Sober Life

If you’d like to learn more about Valium addiction and how we can help you turn your path around to a sober, healthier life, reach out today. Our confidential assessment can get you started on the path to a brighter, drug-free future.

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The Treehouse is a residential drug and alcohol treatment center and can be instrumental for those who have fought substance addiction that co-occurs with mental health conditions. Certain mental health needs may exceed the scope of what can be provided at our facility. Our clinical and medical teams reserve the right to recommend and medically discharge a patient for a higher level of care in order to adequately treat the patient’s mental health condition.